Creative expression can tap into a person’s innermost thoughts and feelings that they can’t otherwise verbalize. It plays a big role in art therapy, especially when it comes to dealing with and healing from trauma. A 5-year-old girl named Tasha (pseudonym) worked with an art therapist to process severe trauma that she underwent at three […]

When it comes to making art, there’s a variety of different art materials one could use such as paint, crayon, clay, charcoal, markers, pencils, etc. Most often, the art material chosen will depend on what the individual intends the finished product to be. That’s because every art material has an inherent quality that impacts the […]

Tia and Leo, a 13-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy, went for joint art therapy sessions. Both children have autism and have learned to work together through artmaking, showcasing their own unique styles. Of course, the dynamic wasn’t like that at first. After the initial discomfort of unfamiliarity, Tia and Leo eventually made art together, […]

Young children may have a hard time communicating their feelings. Often, parents, guardians, or adults looking after them will notice changes in behavior that can signal a problem. In the case of children with anger and aggression, the behaviors may manifest as acting out, verbally and physically. In most cases, treatment for anger management in […]

By Julia Vasko  As the rushing, burning sensations continued to course through my body – signals of an on-going panic attack—I contemplated the color pencils laid out before me. I reached for the red and immediately started scribbling. My gestures were short and hard – aggressive. Red spikes emerged onto the page – a visual […]

By Julia Vasko   I walk into the first room of the Gropius Bau in Berlin, and I am confronted with an artwork from the School of Hieronymus Bosh, The Garden of Earthly Delights. It seems to set the tone for the exhibition of the same name, which explores the garden as a metaphor for the state […]

By Julia Vasko  Once upon a time, I used to plan every minute of my day. I would wake up with a list of things already prepared, just to avoid that moment upon opening my eyes of, “What now?” The unknown frightened me, and I did my best to avoid it by controlling every minute […]

Those who know me will know I feel deeply. I am sensitive and can get emotionally overwhelmed quite easily.  Growing up with a Father who worked so hard to be a single-parent to three young kids (Thank you, Dad!), often meant that there was not much space to express my experience and feelings.  I learnt […]

By Julia Vasko  A few months ago, I received repetitive visions of a tree nearby my house when I would sit in meditation. A tree I could recognize but had no particular relationship with.   I was curious and excited to discover why I was being drawn there.   Did the tree have something to say?   While […]

An Introduction to Art at Samata SoulBy Julia Vasko, Art Curator Creation is a natural impulse that plays an important role in our integrated health. Creative energy is held in the Sacral chakra, the Svadhisthana in Sanskrit, located below the naval point in the lower abdomen.  This is also the energy centre of movement and […]